Grahame Begg throws Written By in Pago Pago Stakes to tune up for Golden Slipper

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TRAINER Grahame Begg has changed plans with Blue Diamond winner Written By and will start the colt in the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday before backing him up in the Golden Slipper.

Begg had planned to trial Written By at Randwick on Tuesday but the trials were postponed due to the weather. The session was rescheduled to Thursday and shifted from the Kensington track to the Steeple grass, which convinced Begg to change tack with his unbeaten colt.

“With the fickle weather coming into play, the trials were moved from the Kensington track to the Steeple grass which is a totally unacceptable surface,” Begg posted on Twitter. “The decision has been made for Written By to take his place in the Pago Pago Stakes this Saturday.”

Written By is the $7 third favourite for the $3.5m Golden Slipper behind Sunlight ($4) and Estijaab ($6). Stratum, in 2005, was the last Pago Pago Stakes winner to back up and win the Slipper.

Sunlight will run in the Magic Night Stakes on Saturday. The Slipper favourite is thriving on her busy race schedule as trainer Tony McEvoy follows his proven blueprint with the star filly.

McEvoy deliberately ran Sunlight twice in seven days at the Gold Coast in January, culminating with her brilliant and dominant Magic Millions win.

This is the successful formula McEvoy is following again with Sunlight because the Magic Night Stakes will have his filly primed for the $3.5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 24.

Camera IconSunlight will tune up for the Golden Slipper in the Magic Night Stakes on Saturday.Picture: AAP

“I galloped her last Saturday morning at Warwick Farm and her work was fabulous,’’ McEvoy said. “She has tightened up a little more from that gallop and we will give her another good piece of work (Tuesday) but she needs to run in the Magic Night Stakes to have her right at her peak for the Golden Slipper.’’

Sunlight is about to contest her sixth race of the season on Saturday, having won her last four in succession, including the Silver Slipper last month after an enthralling showdown with Estijaab.

“When Sunlight won the Silver Slipper, she went into that race 508kg and came out of it at 500kg,’’ McEvoy said. “I weighed her last Wednesday and she was 509kg, so she is thriving. This race on Saturday will have her spot on for the Golden Slipper next week.’’

Sunlight, the $4 Golden Slipper favourite on TAB Fixed Odds, will be ridden by regular jockey Luke Currie in the Magic Night Stakes. The fillies race has attracted 16 nominations with most using it as a last-ditch bid to get into the Golden Slipper.

McEvoy also has promising filly Bring Me Roses entered for the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) on Saturday.

Bring Me Roses, winner of the Edward Manifold Stakes, has already been twice Group 1 placed in the Victoria Oaks when second to Pinot and last start with her third in Grunt’s Australian Guineas.

“I thought Bring Me Roses was very, very good against the ‘boys’ in the Guineas,’’ McEvoy said. “She was up on speed in a high pressure race and although she got a bit tired in the last 100m, it was a fantastic run.

“I’ve got no issues with her coming back slightly in trip and I’ve got Dean Yendall to ride her at 51kg. I’m confident she will run another very competitive race.’’